Ampoule



Aug. 31, 1954 G. N. HEIN, JR

AMPOULE Filed Dec. 4, 1951 INVENTOR.

O DLwLQQM Hm FITTOENEXS' Patented Aug. 31, 1954 'AMPOULE GeorgeN. Hein, Jr., San Carlos, Calif. Application December 4, 1951, Serial No. 259,825

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved amp-ule structure and in its specific aspects aims to provide an ampule cartridge to contain medicament and intended for association with a velocity-injection apparatus by means of which liquid may be hypodermically injected without the aid of a skinpiercing needle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a unit of this character which may readily be assembled to contain desired dosages of medicament and when so assembled will be capable of being associated with or removed from an injection apparatus with the expenditure of minimum effort and time; the ampule assuring a desired discharge of medicament with practically no danger of the ampule bursting despite the fact that relatively very high pressures will be employed in ejecting the liquid.

.A further object is that of providing a device of this type in which unnecessary weight will be reduced to a minimum and the overall size of the cartridge will likewise be reduced. Moreover, by the present teachings a unit is furnished which will withstand repeated handling and high temperatures aside from the fact that its parts will function in a satisfactory manner even although the device may have been stored for long periods of time. Additionally, where fractional dosages are being ejected the problem of trail off is materially reduced.

Still another object is that of furnishing an ampule which will include relatively few parts each individually simple and rugged in structure; such parts being capable of a ready assemblage by quantity production methods.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of ampule;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view thereof showing the same in association with an injection apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts at substantially the completion of the ejection stroke.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application for United States Letters Patent on Injection Device and Ampule filed in the United States Patent Oflice under date of March 22, 1951 and identified underSerial No. 217,005; now United States Patent No. 2,653,605 dated September 29, 1953.

Referring primarily to Figures 2 and 3, the numeral 5 indicates the casing of a velocity injection apparatus and within which a tubular or other member 6 reciprocates. This reciprocation is conveniently effected by a pressure accumulator structure which may be cooked and fired in one of a number of different manners. When fired member 6 moves to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 and serves to project a stem or plunger portion 1 which is affixed to member 6 to move with the same.

Secured to the forward end of casing 5 in any desired manner such as by screw threads, is a nose piece 8. In turn secured to the forward end of the latter, is a loading cap 9. Connection between the latter and the nose piece may again be established by screw threads or any other acceptable form of quick detachable coupling. The forward or outward end of the loading cap may, as shown, be formed with a central opening through which extends a nozzle 10. The latter is provided with a bore l I, the outer end of which is constricted to furnish an orifice of acceptably reduced diameter. Conveniently such diameter a may range between 1003" and .012".

Nose piece 8 is formed with an opening through which stem or plunger 1 is projectible. If desired an O-ring l2 may be mounted by the nose piece and have engagement with the surface of the plunger. The nose piece and/or loading cap define a medicament chamber which in the present exemplification is to receive an ampule. The side wall of that chamber is conveniently defined by a liner or sleeve I 3 of rubber. The length r of the latter is in excess of the over all length of the ampule to be disposed in the chamber. To prevent displacement of the liner i3 with respect to the loading cap, that liner may be provided ,with one or more outstanding rib portions 14 keying into correspondingly shaped grooves or channels formed in the inner face of the cap. Plunger 1 is disposed in axial alignment with the bore of cap 9 and may be projected intosuch bone from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that illustrated in Fig. 3. Nozzle I0 is conveniently formed with a rearward extending cannula or tubular portion 15 also disposed in line with the axis of latter bore.

Now referring to the details of the ampule assembly it will be seen that in the embodiment illustrated the latter includes a forward stopper embracing a plug portion l6 and a head l1. With a nozzle of the type shown employed, the plug and head are formed with an aperture I8. This stopper is conveniently produced from a suitable grade of rubber although other materials might be employed. The stopper is supported adjacent the forward or outer end of the ampule body which includes a tube l9 preferably formed of glass. Adjacent the opposite or rear end of the ampule a piston element is disposed and this element is likewise conveniently formed of rubber. The space between plug l6 and piston 28 is filled with the desired medicament.

In accordance with the present teachings, the ampule supports to the rear of the liquid displacing element 20 a body 2| of flowable material. Conveniently this material is relatively soft wax. The rear end of the body 2! extends beyond the rear end of thetube IS. A cap is furnished at this point and conveniently includes a flange portion 22 sealingly engaging and preferably overlapping the rear edge of tube i9 and enclosing body 2|. The head portion 23 of the cap covers the rear face of body 2|. This cap is conveniently formed of relatively hard sealing wax. If the nozzle it includes a stem portion 15 and the plug 16 is accordingly'formed with an aperture i8, then "that aperture may be initially sealed by a closure element '24.- The latter as illustrated may be in the form of a glass bead having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of aperture 18.

"Aswill be appreciated if the parts of the velocity injection apparatus are in retracted or cooked position as shown in Fig. 2, loading cap 9 may be dismounted from nose piece 8 and a spent or discharged :ampule removed from the medicament'chamber. Thereafter a fresh ampule may be introducedin that chamber and if a'structure such as has been illustrated is employed, stem 15 will penetrate aperture [8 to displace closure element H- as the loading cap is mounted, to thus "establish communication between the bore of the nozzle and the interior of the ampule. Also, any air bubbles existing within the bore of the nozzle will be discharged as the loading cap is tightened. It is,'of course, apparent that other structures might be employed to establish communication between the ampule interior and the outer atmosphere; this portion of the assembly forming no part of the present invention except where otherwise indicated by the claims.

'Assuming that proper communication has been established between the outer atmosphere and interior of the ampule and with the parts in position shown in Fig. 2, if plunger '5 is projected with sufficient speed and force it will cause the rear surface 23 of the cap to be projected into the body 2i of relatively soft material. With such projection that material will move in two directions. One will beaxially of the bore of tube IS.

The other will be radially of that bore and as shown in Fig. 3 against the surface of the liner 13. With such movement that portion of the liner material which intervenes the rear end of tube It and the adjacent end of the medicament chamber will be displaced incident to the pressure exerted upon the parts. With such displacement thrust will be exerted upon the entire body of the liner thus causing the bore of sleeve l3 to constrict. In other words the face of the latter will move into intimate contact with the outer face of tube 19. This will support that tube against bursting in that pressures exerted upon its outer face will substantially equal those to which its interior is subjected.

The portion of wax body 2| which has moved axially of tube l9 will bear against piston 20 if the latter is employed. Due to this thrust the piston will shift towards the nozzle. Incident to such shifting liquid within the ampule will be displaced through nozzle Ill. That displacement will occur under such pressures and with sufficient velocity that the elected jet of medicament will penetrate the epidermis due to the relatively small diameter of the jet. As will be understood the unit will be of relatively reduced height in comparison with the ampule shown in the prior United States application. Therefore, it will be capable of being more easily packaged and will present less over all weight. It is apparent that if body 21 be formed of relatively soft wax no problems of lubrication will arise. When the parts have been projected to the positions shown in Fig. 3, then stopper .20 will be disposed immediately adjacent the rear face of plug [6 and substantially "all medicament will have been discharged. With a loosening of loading cap it the displacement of sleeve I 3 will be relieved. Therefore, the latter will return to its normal position. Under these circumstances the spent cartridge or ampule may readily be withdrawn and discarded and a fresh unit may be placed in position.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

' I claim:

1. An ampule including in combination a tube the bore of which receives medicament, a closure for one end of said bore, means extending into the opposite bore end for closing the latter, said means including a plug of fiowable, wax-like material, a capping layer of protecting material enclosing the outer' end of said plug and extending to a point adjacent the surface of the tube and said capping layer being destructible under the action of a plunger impelled toward said plug to project the latter within the tube bore.

'2. An ampule including in combination a tube the bore of which receives medicament, a closure for one end of said bore, means extending into the opposite bore end for closing the latter, said means including a plug of flowable, wax-like material having its outer end exposed beyond the tube, a capping layer of protecting material enclosing the outer end of said plug and extending around the exposed plug portions into contact with the outer tube face and said capping layer being destructible under the action of a plunger impelled toward said plug to project part of the latter within the tube bore and its remainder in a direction radially of the ampule axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,168,437 Buercklin Aug. 8, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 643,887 Great Britain Sept. 2'7, 1950 

